| Apr-13-12 | | paavoh: Just a reminder what you could benefit from a better King position in the endgame... |
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| Apr-13-12 | | aktajha: it starts with coordinated pieces at move 52, then this is used to gain a space advantage (56) and a better king position (68). The rest is history! But still, one can't stop thinking there should be a draw somewhere after move 52. |
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Apr-14-12
 | | cro777: Position after 50...Rxa3
click for larger view"It’s hard to imagine that a solid grandmaster could lose something like that. But he managed. And he did it without blunders, slowly, gradually." (Shipov) |
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Apr-14-12
| | cro777: Position after 69.h4
click for larger view
Instead of 69...Rd7 Black could have played 69...Nxh4. After 69...Nxh4 70.Kxh4
click for larger view
the position is a tablebase draw. |
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| Apr-14-12 | | Everett: <cro777> Interesting. Dreev is very good in the endgame, so I am not surprised that he gave his fellow GM various problems to solve. Instead of criticizing the loser, I would choose to applaud the winner who managed to pressure his opponent into mistakes, which is what winning chess is all about, from my understanding. I think it is important to note that the tablebase draws do not take into account how difficult the drawing method is. The more I think about it, the more I believe the worst thing on this site, bar none, is posters so quick to criticize or simply point out mistakes off-hand, without even trying to figure out why one would make such an error (which would be extremely educational). I'll have to remind myself to try to do just that more often. |
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Apr-14-12
| | cro777: <Everett: I think it is important to note that the tablebase draws do not take into account how difficult the drawing method is.> That is correct. But that does not mean that you don't need to consult them. GM Balogh Csaba, commenting on his game against Drenchev at the recent European Individual Champioship in Plovdiv, explained why it is relevant to know theoretical endgames. This game is another instructive example. |
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Apr-14-12
 | | OhioChessFan: <Everett> some errors truly are inexplicable. In this game, I can't find a single good reason for h5 and then refusing to give the Knight up for White's last Pawn. Even before Black's 72nd move, White has the obvious threat of Ng5+. Instead of following up on the apparent plan initiated with h5 to dissolve the King side Pawns, Black plays the uber passive Nf8, allows Ng5+, gives up the mini fortress idea of Rh6/f6/h6/f6 etc (which I suspect is a draw in any permutation), relieves White the task of trying to win the g Pawn without exchanging Rooks, and generally lets himselt get steamrolled? I am more understanding of one move blunders than failures of pretty basic technique. |
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Apr-14-12
| | OhioChessFan: <"It’s hard to imagine that a solid grandmaster could lose something like that. But he managed. And he did it without blunders, slowly, gradually." (Shipov) > 81...Re5+ is in fact a blunder and I am surprised Shirov didn't recognize that. It wastes a move and lets the White King get to g6 where it attacks the g Pawn and defends the Knight check at f7, which is devastating. |
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Apr-14-12
| | OhioChessFan: <cro: GM Balogh Csaba, commenting on his game against Drenchev at the recent European Individual Champioship in Plovdiv, explained why it is relevant to know theoretical endgames. > How many live games are there where club level kibitzers correctly point out similar situations where a minor piece can be sacced for a Pawn or 2 and it's a draw? I understand why the engines continue to grind out +3.00 in those circumstances, but how a GM couldn't recognize that is beyond me. And the simple fortress idea of something like this: 
click for larger viewis hardly a high level concept. I wonder if there is any setup for White with RNK where he can win. |
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Apr-14-12
| | cro777: This is a good example of how to win a "drawn" game: Proceed with logical and well directed play whilst your opponent seems to be somewhat at a loss as to how to proceed. It is simply a question of patience, determination and good technique. |
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Apr-14-12
| | OhioChessFan: True, White does deserve a lot of credit for doing that. (I still think Black lost this game more than White won it.) ;) |
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| May-01-12 | | Derived: Impressive, this inspires one to make fewer draws. |
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